I am so stupid.
Why do I even try?
I know I won’t be able to do that.
Sound familiar?
I have a bountiful supply of negative thoughts that constantly run through my head.
I’ve written before about my inner critic, that voice inside that turns a good day into a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad one. These thoughts don’t come from the outside. They form inside my head.
But what about the outer critics?
Other people add fuel to the flame with their unfavorable assessments. When we’re yearning for positive feedback, even neutral comments can feel like rejection. And intentional criticism? That’s a slap in the face.
You’re not very good at this, are you?
When you get old, you’re going to be a bald, fat man!
You are not the droid we’re looking for!
It’s not like we don’t already have enough to deal with: negative self-talk, low self-esteem, and imposter syndrome. Then someone else chimes in, and it gets worse.
An Unexpected Lesson from Formula 1
I live in the Southeastern U.S., where NASCAR is extremely popular. But I never became a true racing fan (of any kind) until I watched Formula 1: Drive to Survive on Netflix.
This docuseries takes you behind the scenes of the Formula 1 World Championship. It’s drama, comedy, adventure, and even horror all wrapped in ten episodes per season.
You get to know the drivers, the teams, the rivalries, and the pressure. And yes, the pit stops are insane: all four tires changed in just over two seconds!
One episode stood out to me: Season 3, Episode 3 — “Nobody’s Fool.”
Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas is tired of finishing behind his teammate, Lewis Hamilton. He’s even been ordered to let Lewis pass him in races. Bottas wants to prove himself, not just to the world, but to himself.
Before the Russian Grand Prix, Bottas is having breakfast with his coach and a friend. He mentions seeing some unkind remarks towards him on social media the night before.
His friend responds with a Finnish saying:
The dogs are barking, but the train keeps going.
The meaning? The dogs can bark all they want, but it doesn’t stop the train. The train doesn’t slow down. It doesn’t bark back. It just keeps going.
Bottas channels that mindset, drives with precision, and wins the race. The episode closes with a quiet triumph: not just a victory on the track, but a personal win against doubt, distraction, and the critics (both internal and external).
Bottas’s quiet triumph reminds us that the loudest voices aren’t always the wisest. True strength often lies in moving forward, and not shouting back. It’s a lesson worth remembering, especially when criticism comes our way.
So how do we respond when the barking gets loud? Let’s look at three ways to handle criticism and how each one can shape your journey.
Three Ways to Handle Criticism
Whether it’s your own inner critic or someone else’s outer criticism, you have three choices in handling criticism:
Respond – React emotionally or take action.
Agree – Accept the criticism and move forward.
Ignore – Let the dogs bark. Be the train.
Respond
The Ryder Cup is a golf competition held every two years between teams from Europe and the United States. It’s known for its intense match play format and passionate national pride.
Played across three days, it features team-based matches including foursomes, four-ball, and singles, with 28 points up for grabs.
In the 2025 Ryder Cup, hosted at Bethpage Black in New York, Team Europe triumphed over Team USA with a final score of 15–13.
American fans were especially vocal toward European players—none more so than Rory McIlroy, the World No. 2. Several times, McIlroy stood over the ball, ready to hit, only to back off as fans heckled and shouted.
Eventually, McIlroy had had enough. On the 16th hole, after repeated interruptions, he turned to the crowd and shouted, “Shut the f*** up!” It was a raw, emotional response that made headlines.
But then, he stepped up and delivered a near-perfect shot, helping secure a key victory for Team Europe.
Sometimes, responding to criticism means reacting emotionally. Other times, it means channeling that energy into focused action. McIlroy did both, and in doing so, reminded us that while emotion is human, it’s what we do next that defines us.
Agree
Sometimes criticism stings because it’s true. In those moments, the wisest response isn’t defense, it’s humility. When we choose to agree with the feedback, we open the door to growth, improvement, and deeper self-awareness.
Accepting criticism doesn’t mean defeat. It means we’re strong enough to learn, adjust, and keep moving forward.
I remember a time when I was leading a department in a nonprofit organization. One of our volunteers and I had a disagreement, and I didn’t handle it well.
I was frustrated, and instead of listening, I reacted. Later, in a follow-up meeting, he calmly shared what he needed and how I could have supported him better.
He was absolutely right.
I had missed the mark, and I knew it. I apologized, and I learned. That moment taught me how to respond differently if I ever found myself in a similar situation again.
It wasn’t easy to hear, but agreeing with his feedback helped me grow as a leader and as a person.
Ignore
Not all criticism deserves your attention. Sometimes, the wisest move is to keep your head down and stay focused on your path. Valtteri Bottas faced a wave of doubt and online criticism before the Russian Grand Prix.
Instead of engaging, he ignored “the barking dogs.” Bottas let the noise fade into the background and focused on the task at hand, winning the Russian Grand Prix.
Ignoring criticism isn’t a weakness. It’s a strength in disguise. It’s the discipline to stay the course when distractions beg for your attention.
Criticism is inevitable. How we handle it is a choice. Whether we respond with emotion or action, agree and grow, or simply ignore the noise and stay the course, each approach has its place.
The key is knowing which response serves you best in the moment. Because when you handle criticism wisely, you don’t just survive it, you use it to move forward freely.
Now, let’s break it down into Disgustingly Simple Takeaways you can use today.
Disgustingly Simple Takeaway
You don’t have to silence the critics.
You don’t have to prove them wrong.
You just have to keep going.
Let the dogs bark.
Be the train.
Call to Action:
This week, when criticism comes your way: pause and choose your response.
Will you react, reflect, or release?
Pick the path that helps you move forward freely. Write it down. Live it out.